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Marksmanship

“Of all our national pastimes, this is one which should be pursued for the sake only of the honourable distinction to be obtained, in excelling in an art, where both mental and physical gifts are developed.”

Anonymous author on match rifle shooting (1866)

Long Range Muzzle Loading

The hey-day of the muzzle loading era for rifle marksmen in Great Britain was the first two decades of the National Rifle Association's (NRA) existence; broadly 1860-1880. Target rifle competition was held at distances out to 1,000 yards (sometimes further) in local, national and international events. Accuracy achieved with these rifles was formidable, one notable achievement being the Irish rifleman J.K.Milner's unprecedented 15 consecutive bulls-eyes at 1000 yards, fired at Creedmoor in the Centennial Match of 1876 using a Rigby muzzle loading match rifle.Learn More: The Muzzle Loading Match Rifle in Great Britain

Two national associations within the UK cater for the discipline of long range muzzle loading, namely the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB formed because of a shared interest in the sport and history and have a full programme of events, generally tied in with MLAGB events to often provide a full weekend (and longer) of shooting.Learn more: Long Range Muzzle Loading in Great Britain

The World Governing body for muzzle loading shooting is the Muzzle Loaders Associations International Committee (MLAIC), who in 1999 introduced long range World Championships to their competition programme. Sports governing bodies and national associations provide opportunities to compete and may be able to provide club contacts at local levels.Learn more: LRML Worldwide

Choice of match rifle today will be that of a modern made reproduction, including custom built rifles, or an original rifle. Many competitions make no distinction between reproduction and original rifles, although in international events they are fired in their own classes. Nothing beats experience in the discipline of long range muzzle loading. Rifle, equipment and to an extent the shooter can be tuned for optimum performance at shorter ranges, and the mid-range shooting of 200 to 600 yards offers valuable opportunity to learn. At longer distances the shooter really needs to get to the range and start to learn the effects that changing wind and atmospheric conditions have on the flight of the bullet. It is a challenging discipline but ultimately rewarding and the thrill of seeing the target drop below the mantlet at 1000 yards and reappear with a V-bull scored really has to be felt!Learn more: LRML: Rifles & Equipment

In the UK for many years the MLAGB have included within their calendar of events National Rifle Championship matches at 200, 300, 500 and 600 yards for Enfield rifles, the service arm of the British soldier in the mid-19th Century. The Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB also includes within their competitions the Asquith Cup match, an aggregate fired at 600 and 800 yards with .577 military percussion rifles.Learn more: Long Range Shooting with the Military Muzzle Loading Rifle